Feeders for crushers and the like



May 21, 1968 R, J, GASPARAC ET Al. 3,384,215

FEEDERS FOR CRUSHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 21, 1968 R. J. GAsPARAc ET Al. 3,384,215

FEEDERS FOR CRUSHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 22. 196 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, i968 R. J. GASPARAC ET AL 3,384,215

FEEDERS -FOR CRUSHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 /W//ff ,f/aways'.

May 2l, 1968 R; J, GASPARAC ET Al. 3,384,215

FgEDEns FOR CRusHERs AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 196

United States Patent Office 3,384,215 Patented May 21, 1968 3,384,215 FEEDERS FOR CRUSHERS AND THE LIKE Rudolph J. Gasparac, Milwaukee, and Arnoldl P. Szaj,

Hales Corners, Wis., assignors to Nordberg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,201 6 Claims. (Cl. 193-3) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to an improvement in 4centrifugal feed distributors for gyrated head cone Crushers in which an improved passage member is provided and in which a yielding suspension is provided for such a passage member, to permit it to recede in response to overload or the impact of large particles, and to its lubrication.

This invention is in the field of material reduction machines and relates to a Crusher having a gyrated, generally conic head. More specifically, the invention relates to means and methods for independently feeding and distributing material in accordance with a pre-arranged rate or schedule to a crushing -cavity defined between the liner and mantle of a cone Crusher, for maximum crushing efficiency relative to the crushing action in the cavity.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an independent and independently operable feed mixer and distributor for cone Crushers and the like.

Another object is to provide a method of feeding and distributing material to a crushing cavity for a maximum reduction efciency.

Another object is to provide an independent feed distributor which may be set at a rate independent of the rate of gyration of the head of a crusher.

Another object is to provide a feed distributor for cone Crushers which insures that the feed is distributed in a generally horizontal plane at all times, regardless of the operation of the Crusher head.

Another object is to provide an improved replaceable and wear-taking feeding member for Crushers of the type above alluded to.

Another object is to provide improved means for attaching such a feeding member and for compensating for the shock of the downward feed of large particles.

Another object is to provide means for lubricating feed distributors of the type above alluded to.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical axial section of the upper part of a crusher illustrating the invention, and including parts in perspective;

FIGURE 2 is a partial axial section on an enlarged scale showing one type of feed element;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the feed element shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the structure of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial vertical axial section of a different form of feed element and assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a plan View illustrating lubricating connections;

FIGURE 7 is a detail of the mechanism for providing automatic lubrication;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the feed element shown in FIGURE 5, somewhat reduced in scale;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FIG- URE 5.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

In FIGURE 1 the upper part of a cone Crusher has been shown, including a main frame 10 supporting a tilting or adjustment ring 12 on a flange 14 at the upper end of the main frame. The tilting ring is held in the position in which it is shown by a plurality of springs or the like, not shown, disposed about the Crusher. A bowl 18 is screw-threaded into the ring 12 and removably supports a liner 20 which defines part of a crushing cavity 22 in cooperation with a mantle 24 supported on a suitable head 26 which, in turn, is mounted on a suitable and gyratable shaft, not shown.

The bowl liner 20 and the mantle 24 are held in place by suitable means, which do not form part of the present invention. In the particular Crusher herein shown the head is shown as terminating upwardly in an extension cap 33. 34 indicates a feed cone or conic wall which has associated with it a more or less cylindrical upper wall portion 35. It will be noted that the conic wall 34 is tapered inwardly in such fashion as to direct material downwardly toward an intermediate portion of the head, whence it passes to the crushing cavity 22. In some forms of cone Crusher, where the upper part of the cone or head is relied upon to perform a crushing function, the upper space 22a may constitute part of the crushing cavity. It will be understood, of course, that there is room for a wide variety of changes in form of bowl liner and mantle, and that what is essential is that whether the crushing cavity 22 or 22a is employed, or whether both are employed, they are defined by an outer liner and an inner mantle appropriately formed and of appropriate material to perform their crushing function. Thus, While a particular type of Crusher has been shown and described, it should be understood that this is primarily representative of a number of Crushers which may include or incorporate the invention of the herein described and claimed feeder.

Referring to the form of FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, the material to be crushed is fed from above by the rotatable feeder member generally indicated at 40. This feeder member is generally coaxial with the machine, it being understood that the crusher head may be gyrated about the center of gyration 30. The material is delivered downwardly initially through any suitable tube or duct, herein shown as a cylindrical pipe 50. It may be supported upon any suitable top platform 51 by any suitable means, this platform being supported, for example, upon supports 52. Mounted on the platform 51 is any suitable motor, generally indicated at 53, which, through any suitable drive, such as is shown at 54, drives a pulley 55 about which passes any suitable belt, or belts, 56. The feed spout 40 may, for example, be a casting of suitable material, for example, material sold under the trademark Ni-Hard. This casting is shown as having an upper circumferential flange 41 and a lower portion 42 which is formed to provide a downwardly and outwardly extending discharge passage 43. The side view of this passage is indicated, for example, in FIGURE 4. It will be understood that the guiding or feeding surface is shown in profile, as at 44 in FIGURE 2, and is shown in plan, as at 44a in FIG- URE 4.

It will be observed that the lower part of the casting 40 is substantially thicker that the upper part, and it is contoured in order to provide a maximum depth or thickness at the points of wear, as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4. Any suitable pulley 57 may be secured to the top flange 41 of the casting 40, as by suitable bolts 58. It will be understood that the pulleys 55 and 57 aregrooved to receive the belt or belts 56, and that the motor 53,

through the drive 54, thus may be employed to rotate the casting 40 about the vertical axis indicated at 30a in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

lt will be understood that the crushing head of the cone Crusher gyrates, and any rotation that it has is caused by a slight frictional drag during operation. Segregation of feed takes place, which results in non-uniform crushing around the crushing cavity. It has been customary in the past to use a feeding plate at the top of the crushing head, but, in practice, it is advantageous to avoid the use of a feeding plate and to employ an entirely separate feeding mechanism. Thus the feed member 40 is provided with an outlet which is radially exterior to and completely clears the extension cap 33, and itself constitutes the sole means for feeding material outwardly toward 35 and 34, and thence into the crushing cavity 22 or 22a. Actually, the liner and mantle shown in FIGURE 1 are such as will define the lower crushing cavity 22, and a modification of the form of bowl liner and mantle would be necessary in order to define a crushing cavity including the upper portion 22a. The showing will therefore be taken as diagrammatic.

The drive motor 53 or the like may be electric, hydraulic, or otherwise, but an essential characteristic is that it iS totally independent in its operation from whatever motor means are used to drive or gyrate the crushing head, and, accordingly, may be set to drive the feed distributor at a rate which is totally independent of the rate of movement of the head.

Whereas we have illustrated the passage 50 as a cylinder, it will be understood that its shape, formation, and dimensions may be varied. What is essential is that it should direct or permit the fall of material downwardly from above into the top opening 45 of the memebr 40, this top opening being completed, as shown at the left-hand side of FIGURE 2, and in FIGURE 3, by an annular segment 46. It will be understood that the shape and formation of the member 40 and of the passage therethrough may be widely varied. In effect, what we show in FIG- URE 2 is a species of arcuately walled trough, which has no sharp angles or formations which would interrupt the free flow of material downwardly and outwardly therethrough to and past the passage lip 47. It is advantageous to have the lower bottom surface 44 and the lip 47 spaced outwardly somewhat beyond the annulus 46, but, if desired, the proportions may be varied.

It will be understood that whereas we do not so illustrate it in the drawings, it is practical to provide a weartakng liner covering part or all of the surfaces 44 and 44a. This liner may be of metal, or of a suitable plastic,

or of rubber, or of a suitable rubber substitute. We may, for example, provide a metal insert which may be suitably secured within the member 40. Or we may apply simply a surfacing of plastic or a rubber substitute, or of metallic material, which, in some circumstances, wears off in use, and may be supplemented or replaced by a new layer of the same or equivalent material. The insert or liner may be tacked on, or may be adhesively secured.

It will be understood that any suitable bearing and sealing means may be employed, as shown in FIGURE 2, but since they do not of themselves form part of the present invention they are not described in detail.

In the use of our invention, in larger machines it is advantageous somewhat to modify the form of the feed member, and, also, to provide means for cushioning the impact caused by the fall of large particles from above. In FIGURE 5 and following we illustrate an adaptation for use with larger machines. For example, in one typical use the diameter of the down tube, indicated at 100 in FIGURE 5, may be as much as three feet. In the structure as shown in FIGURE 5 and following, it will be understood that any suitable top platform may be used, not indicated in detail, which platform will also support a suitable motor, such as is shown in the form of FIGURE l. The downspout proper is shown in FIG- URE 5 as having or including an outwardly extending top flange 101. The feed spout proper is indicated as the part 102, which may advantageously be made as a one-piece casting. It is shown as having a somewhat massive lower wall portion 103 which is connected by side portions 104 to a top flange 105. It may be advantageous to employ generally radial ribs or reinforcements 106, the outer edges of which are downwardly and inwardly tapered, as shown, for example, in FIGURES 5 and 9. Side thickened portions are shown, as at 107 in FIGURE 9. In this particular form the lower discharge lip 108 lies within the top annular portion 109.

In the feed spout as shown in FIGURE 5 the feeder member' 102 may be secured to its rotating pulley 120 in such fashion as to permit a limited downward movement of the feed spout. We show, for example, bolts 121 which may be screw-threaded or otherwise secured to the pulley 120, and which have, at their lower ends, nuts 122 which may be employed to position a bottom spring abutment 123. Any suitable spring means may be used, such as coil springs or Belleville washers. They are here indicated as coil springs 124 and are compressed between the bottom abutment 123 and the upper end, for example, of a surrounding cup 125, which, in turn, abuts the lower surface of the flange 105. Thus the springs 124 normally urge the feed spout 102 upwardly against the lower end of the pulley 120. However, the impact of a massive particle can be received by the bottom wall 103 without too much of a shock, since the springs 124 will give slightly and will then lreturn the flange to its original position.

Any suitable sealing means may be employed, such as are shown at 130, 131, `and any suitable bearings, such as are indicated at 132. The space about the bearings is closed by the seals and may be suitably lubricated. For example, we may employ a lubricating `system including a reservoir 13S.

The details of the lubricating system may be widely varied, but it is desirable that the lubircation be actuated in response to rotation of the feed spout i102, and specifically, of the sheave or pulley 120. We illustrate the system diagrammatically in FIGURES 6 and 7, in which the reservoir is in communication with the pump 136. The pump delivers lubricant under .pressure to a suitable distribution valve 137. Any suitable lubrication line 138 may be used to distribute the lubricant at desired points about the pulley 120. A return duct 139 is indicated. The pump 136 may be of any suitable design, but we illustrate it as actuated by a cam 1140 mounted on the sheave 120. It will be 4understood that at each revolution of the sheave the cam 140 serves to actuate the pump l136 and thus to deliver lubricant -along the passage 138 to the desired delivery points indicated, for example, at 141 in FIGURES 5 and 6.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of out invention. We therefore wish our description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting us to our specific showing. In particular, it will be understood that a wide variety of liner members or materials may be employed within the rotating feed spouts 40 or 102.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

We illustrate herein two examples of a rotating feed member made in accordance with our invention. In each case a body of me-tal, which may be a casting, includes a top flange and a downwardly extending passage member. The passage member wall is appropriately thickened at the areas of maximum wear. In the form of FIGURE 5, for example, the bottom 103 of the member 102 is massive and is adapted to receive the impact and abrasion of large particles or masses dropped from above. Where heavy masses are employed the springs 124, or their equivalent, provide a cushioning means lwhich permit a slight temporary downward movement of the member 102. In the larger form, as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, appropriate lubricating means are shown, whereby, in response to the rotation of the feed spout 102, the bearings 132 are appropriately lubricated.

It is important that the members, preferably castings, are so designed as to have a maximum thickness in the zones of maximum wear. Examples of such design are shown in the figures herein. It is also advantageous that lining or protecting material be applied at the zones of wear. For example, a shell of metal or of plastic, or of rubberlike material, may be inserted and suitably secured in place. As these more or less temporary lining layers wear away, they can be Ireadily replaced, thus prolonging the life of the casting.

We claim:

1. A rotatable feed distributing member for a gyrated head Crusher having a generally upright axis and a feeder support located above and independent of the head, which includes a casting having a generally circumferential, outwardly extending upper flange and body depending therefrom, the ange being formed and adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting and rotating assembly located above the head, said casting body being internally formed to define a downwardly and outwardly extending feed delivery passage extending downwardly through the flange land terminating in a discharge aperture radially outwardly spaced from the upright axis of the body and located substantially below the flange, the body being of sufficient mass to -stand the battering of heavy particles dropped downwardly through the flange into rthe feed delivery passage, and yielding means for securing the ange to the supporting and rotating assembly including a plurality of spring elements spaced circumferentially about the flange and adapted to permit the body to recede from the supporting and .rotating assembly in response to shock, while normally maintaining the body in its upward predetermined location in relation to the supporting and rotating assembly.

2. A rotatable feed distributing member for a gyrated head crusher having a generally upright yaxis and a feeder support located above and independent of the head, which includes a casting having a generally circumferential, outwardly extending upper ange and body depending therefrom, the flange being formed and adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting and rotating assembly located above the head, said casting body being internally formed to define a downwardly and outwardly extending feed delivery passage extending downwardly through the ange and termina-ting in a discharge aperture radially outwardly spaced from the upright axis of the body and located substantially below the ange, the body being of sufficient mass to stand the battering of heavy particles dropped downwardly through the flange into the feed delivery passage, and means for lubricating the supporting and rotating assembly in direct response to its rotation.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the body is thickened laterally about its center of rotation whereby to resist lateral wear against the particles being fed therethrough, caused by the rotation of the body.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including means for lubricating the supporting and rotating assembly in direct response to its rotation.

5. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the lubricating means include a pump and a cam drive therefor.

6. The structure of claim 2 characterized in that the lubricating means include a pump and a cam drive therefor, and ducts extending from the pump to a plurality of delivery points spaced circumferentially about the supporting and rotating assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,207 3/ 1910 Vissering 302-64 1,044,181 11/1'912 Hudson 302-64 Y'12,808,295 10/ 1957 Caron 302--60 3,110,521 11/1963 Rogers et al 302-64 844,317 2/ 1907 Blake 193-3 2,215,736 9/ 1940 Jones 193--3 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner. 

